To the Theatre

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 318, 31 March 1928, Page 24

To the Theatre

(By the REV. B. G. BOCRcrib I l/~L, vicar of the Church oilit !**' 1 on-thc-itill, Hampstead./ I AM au habitual ! reso f’ and 1 = TtYiß'rn ° solns *° PUvs t ’Hywyggj Firstly, Igo for^g. cation of miad *“*»■ spirit: secondly, for recreat e 4114 the Rev. B. G. Bourchier a English preacher. ’ ‘“Puls; And these. I think, are the theatre-going reasons for the man-in-the-street. To the first class belong all Plays which point to a mo4dplays as “The Fake,” “White “Abraham Lincoln” and ‘ Th« dorn of God.” Theso plav s ally sermons, and, as sermons a vivid brightness that arr'estfT attention. On the stage fictfon^ ! spoken as truth; in so manv mJ! truth is uttered as fiction’ * PUp,ts To the second class belong merely amusing modernitier revues. They do not appeal more thoughtful side of one’s but they are frankly funnv Ld 2* the valuable quality of taking one » of onese f for a couple of bom?s* without involving the reaction of « insidious pick-me-up. Uc * * * One of the most powerful f.-,„ in support of the theatre as a w of recreation is that it assist.Ti I in keeping abreast of the thnea ft from the point of view of anv man who wishes to play a useful 2s * m the life of the community JT valuable. y ’ “ *■ |> “ is ,7° rk brings him into'cont*, with all types and manners of n«m; c and it will never do for him to bee™," narrow-minded. He must, so far possible, see the world from m2! ! ; aspect, and the theatre, like tk 1 newspapers, helps him in this. ' I It is so easy for any man ww, 1 profession absorbs the bulk of k! ;■ time to develop a narrow and m stricted vision. This, possibly k I no great importance to many h». I any public man, whether of the clem f or the laity, cannot afford to let tv! ft happen. And therein I find the theatre «r 1 such tremendous value. i the inveterate theatre-goer I am. t provides the stimulus I need 2 shows me if I, too, am bec’onS i narrow-minded! Other people’s Tier 1' are put before me in a sparkling t» forceful manner that compels attestion. New solutions to old problem i are offered across the footturtn which, though at times I may fo. % agi-ee with them, invite thought wj * consideration. And the tired as after a strenuous day can sit in; comfortable seat and watch ij= procession of life moving before his H without him being called on to tab It. any part in it. Thus the theatre, by being absorb , ing and entertaining, rrevet-.s, solo ! speak, the barnacles grevisj. f and leaves one fresh to face the work t of reality once more. 1